5 Best Pet Insurance Companies for Emergencies (2023)

There’s a good chance your pet will need emergency veterinary care at some point in its life, whether it accidentally breaks a bone or swallows something it isn’t supposed to eat. Surgeries, X-rays, and other treatments can be costly, and no pet parent should have to choose between getting their pet critical care and avoiding a high bill.

That’s why it’s important to get a pet insurance policy that covers emergency care before an emergency occurs. If you wait until after an accident or illness, your pet’s condition will be considered preexistingand won’t be covered by any provider.

The This Old House Reviews Team reviewed more than 20 of the best pet insurance companies to find which have the best emergency coverage. See which providers made our list below.

Here are the top emergency pet insurance providers based on our in-depth review:

• Lemonade: Best Overall
• Spot: Most Customizable Plans
• Embrace: Best Deductibles
• Healthy Paws: Best Coverage Limit
• Figo: Best Extra Coverage Add-On

*Based on sample quotes for 4-year-old, mixed male dogs in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Lemonade: Best Overall

We rated Lemonade 96 out of 100. The provider has comprehensive coverage at some of the most affordable rates on this list, but is only available in 37 U.S. states. 

• Deductibles: $100, $250, $500
• Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90%
• Maximum coverage limits: $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000

Provider Pros and Cons

✔ Has short two-day waiting period for accidents

✔ Is the most affordable provider on our list

✔ Offers an annual 5% discount, 10% bundle discount, and 10% multi-pet discount

✘ Is only available in 37 states

✘ Doesn’t cover pets over a certain age (varies by breed)

Why We Chose Lemonade

Lemonade covers much of the care pets need in an emergency, such as hospitalization, surgery, and X-rays. The company also has a short two-day waiting period for accidents. However, Lemonade isn’t available nationwide, and the provider doesn’t insure pets under 2 months old. It also doesn’t insure pets over 14 years old, but some breeds, such as certain bulldog varieties, are capped as young as 7 years old.  Most providers that have an upper age limit cap coverage for all breeds at 14 or 15 years old. 

Get a quote: Get a quote from Lemonade

Learn more: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review

Spot: Most Customizable Plans

We scored Spot 91 out of 100. Spot offers more emergency coverage for only a few dollars more per month than Lemonade, but it has a longer waiting period. 

• Deductibles: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000
• Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90%
• Maximum coverage limits: $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, unlimited

Provider Pros and Cons

✔ Offers unlimited coverage

✔ Provides a 10% multi-pet discount

✔ Is available nationwide

✘ Has a 14-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses

✘ Doesn’t cover pets under 8 weeks old

Why We Chose Spot

Spot has some of the most comprehensive emergency pet insurance coverage of any company we reviewed. In addition to common emergency treatments such as surgeries and X-rays, it covers medical supplies such as casts and splints and poison control consultation fees. You can opt for an accident-only plan if you want to save money and don’t mind skipping coverage for illnesses. 

Get a quote: Get a quote from Spot

Learn more: Spot Pet Insurance Review

Embrace: Best Deductibles

Embraced scored a 93.5 out of 100. The company has comparable emergency coverage to other providers but is the most expensive on this list.

• Deductibles: $200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000
• Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90%
• Maximum coverage limits: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000

Provider Pros and Cons

✔ Has an online chat and mobile app

✔ Requires only a two-day waiting period for accidents

✔ Reduces your deductible $50 each year you don’t file a claim

✘ Has limited customer service hours

✘ Caps coverage limit options at $30,000

Why We Chose Embrace

Embrace has a good range of deductible options, from as low as $200 up to $1,000. The provider also offers other ways to control your monthly premium, such as multiple discounts. Embrace has a 5% military member discount, 10% multi-pet discount, and a 10% discount for employees of companies that offer Embrace.

Get a quote: Get a quote from Embrace

Learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance Review

Healthy Paws: Best Coverage Limit

Healthy Paws has a transparent approach to pet insurance and will recommend other providers if they have better prices for the coverage you want. The company has one of the most expensive monthly premiums on this list, but it offers unlimited coverage. We gave it a 93.5 out of 100 for these reasons.

• Deductibles: $250, $500
• Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%
• Maximum coverage limits: Unlimited

Provider Pros and Cons

✔ Offers unlimited coverage to all customers

✔ Is frequently praised by customers for caring about pets

✔ Doesn’t require a referral to see a specialist 

✘ Has a 15-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses and 12 months for hip dysplasia

✘ Caps reimbursement rate options at 80%

Why We Chose Healthy Paws

We read more than 100 Healthy Paws reviews, and customers consistently wrote that they feel the company genuinely cares about pets. The provider has a foundation dedicated to pet welfare, and customers wrote that representatives often check in to see how their pets are doing. Healthy Paws offers unlimited coverage with no caps per year or per treatment. However, it has a 15-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses, and its highest reimbursement rate is 80%.

Get a quote: Get a quote from Healthy Paws

Learn more: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review

Figo: Best Extra Coverage Add-On

We gave Figo a 93 out of 100. Its emergency pet insurance coverage is similar to that of other providers on this list. Its prices are on the lower end, but it doesn’t cover pets under 8 weeks old.

• Deductibles: $100, $250, $500, $750
• Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%
• Maximum coverage limits: $5,000, $10,000, unlimited

Provider Pros and Cons

✔ Has a one-day waiting period for accidents

✔ Offers unlimited coverage

✔ Provides a 100% reimbursement rate option

✘ Doesn’t cover pets under 8 weeks old

✘ Charges transaction fees in some states

Why We Chose Figo

Figo offers not only great emergency coverage, but also comprehensive coverage overall. It has a standard accident-and-illness plan plus multiple optional add-ons, such as coverage for boarding fees, burial and cremation fees, lost-pet fees, preventive care, vacation cancellation fees due to pet emergencies, and vet exam fees.

Get a quote: Get a quote from Figo

Learn more: Figo Pet Insurance Review

Pet insurance is a policy that helps cover costs related to your pet’s health care. Similar to insurance for people, you pay a monthly premium for a plan with the coverage you want. You pay for your pet’s vet visit at checkout, then you file a claim with your insurance provider and get reimbursed according to your policy terms. 

Most providers offer an accident-and-illness plan that covers common vet care for injuries and illnesses, such as diagnostic testing, emergency surgery, lab work, hospitalization, and more. Some providers also have an optional wellness plan for an extra monthly fee. These plans cover the cost of preventive care, such as annual checkups and vaccinations. A few providers have other add-on options to cover things such as boarding and burial fees. 

Learn more about how pet insurance works in our guide.

Emergency coverage is included in most providers’ standard accident-and-illness plans, which costs $25–$60 per month for the companies on this list. Pet insurance prices vary greatly among providers depending on their coverage and the annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate you choose. Your location and your pet’s breed and age also affect your monthly premium.

Here are the average monthly premiums for an accident-and-illness plan for pets of different ages:

*Sample quotes are for mixed-breed, male dogs in Raleigh, North Carolina, using ages 8 months, 4 years, and 12 years.

*Sample quotes are for mixed-breed, male cats in Raleigh, North Carolina, using ages 8 months, 4 years, and 12 years.

See our list of cheapest pet insurance providers to find pet health coverage without overextending your budget.

Weigh the following factors before buying pet insurance:

• Add-ons: Most providers have an accident-and-illness plan, but some also have optional add-ons, such as wellness plans for routine pet care. Look for companies that offer these plans if you’re interested in additional coverage.
• Age limits: Some providers have a minimum and maximum age limit for your pet. Check to see if your pet is considered too young or too old to enroll.
• Availability: Not all providers offer coverage nationwide. Check their site to make sure they’re available in your state.
• Cost: Get a sample quote before committing to any provider to see what your monthly premium will be. You should also look at the options for annual deductibles, annual limits, and reimbursement rates to see how changing these selections impacts your premium.
• Coverage: Coverage varies between providers and between their own plans. Make sure to read the coverage details of each plan to understand exclusions.

All pet health insurance providers include some degree of emergency medical care coverage in their standard plans, but the specific treatments covered vary. Remember that pet insurance can’t help you if you wait until after an emergency occurs to get it. Pet owners who want veterinary bills covered when problems arise should enroll in a plan as soon as possible. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay out of pocket, which can cost thousands.

The This Old House Reviews Team is dedicated to thorough, in-depth reviews of each product or service that we detail in our content. Determined to build trust with our readers through transparency, accuracy, and accountability, we’ve built a detailed rating system to score pet insurance brands. Included in this methodology are the following six factors with their respective scoring weights:

• Coverage (25)
• Plan options (20)
• Monthly cost (20)
• Company reputation (15)
• Customer service (10)
• Species eligibility (10)

Our researchers keep all data in each company’s score up to date, making any changes to our content when necessary to provide our readers with the most accurate information on relevant metrics, such as plan options, customer service, reputation, and monthly cost.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.